Friday, January 18, 2013

Visiting Jer in Colorado

Jeremiah and his family live in Colorado. Tara and him have 4 sons, and another on the way. We decided that we would visit them the week of New Years, giving us time during school holiday to have time with the older boys.

Making a Home Depot Gingerbread House

We helped them move to Colorado last May into their home where they are starting a new part of their lives after Jer graduating from UVU. The move was a feat all in itself, and the house they found was so nice after a year and a half in a tiny apartment.

Weston

For us to come back and see them all moved in and settled was quite fun. Braxton loves his new big back yard, digging for treasures in the dirt is his favorite. Weston was a newborn when they moved, so to see his growth crawling up and now down the stairs, walking around all the furniture, and opening cupboards and unloading them, just such joy for us to experience. It was also fun to see Jeremiah with his boys. A father interacting with his children, holding Weston when he was tired and ready for bed, while he fell asleep in his arms singing his little boy song. It is always fun to see first hand how the children you raised love the children they are raising. The interaction with their own children, teaching, talking, loving.

Braxton

We brought with us a fun activity to do with the older boys. I found Star Wars snowflake templates on the internet, and we printed them out, after an hour of figuring out how to make them large enough to cut, we started our cutting activity. A card table was set up in the living room just for our snowflakes, scissors, paper, and excitement. It really was a feat. There are some really small parts to cut on those snowflakes, but with duo help we made these snowflakes. I was using an exacto knife to get the eyes, ears, and mouth cut out. Tara and Braxton were cutting partners and Porter and Tyson cut the outside edges out by themselves, and we created some fabulous snowflakes! Porter just kept going, he even started designing his own snowflakes. It was a hit! We all had fun.

Tyson, Me, and Tara

Braxton, Tara, Me

Porter

Our Snowflakes

Our biggest surprise was Weston, and how much he looks like his grandpa. I thought, mmm, he looks like him now, his eyes, his cheesy smile, the shape of his face. But, when we arrived home, a few days later I found a framed picture of Dana as a baby, and I'm not sure there is much of Tara in that boy. Those are very true O'Crowley genes in that boy for sure.

Dana and Weston

Weston, Dana, Braxton, Jeremiah

Dana and Jer spent most of their time together working on little things in the house, just fixing here and there. Dana loves to have projects to do all the time. This is just what and who he is. So there were light fixtures changed, doorways framed, and just bonding going on. Braxton had his little tool box out, hammer, screwdriver, helping along the way. He too is a busy little boy, and talk! No one can talk as much as Braxton, well it seems that way.

Weston learning to walk

We watched movies at night and were caught up on the Avengers series. Had to see Ironman and who and what he was. Dana and I haven't ever read the comics of these Super Heros, so it was fun to learn about these characters and their personalities and achievements. Ahhh the love of Super Heros.

Braxton and Weston

Braxton and Weston

I guess this is all for now, it was a fun trip, and a great time with this O'Crowley Colorado Family.